Arbutus Coaching’s Blog

Welcome to Because Life Isn’t a Dress Rehearsal, a blog written by life and business coach Kathy Santini, owner of Arbutus Coaching. This blog contains coaching tips and advice to help you become the most self actualized, effective person you can be, both personally and professionally. If you’re serious about “growing your possibilities,” and transforming your life, then you’re in the right place. My goal in writing this blog is to help you create a life that is easier, bigger, richer and more rewarding than the life you’re living now. So let’s get started shall we, because life isn’t a dress rehearsal and time’s a wastin’.

• About Kathy Santini

« Success Tip - Coaches Know That It’s All About Your Mindset, So Think Your Way to Success | Home | Seven Traits Successful People Share »

Five Tips for Surviving and Thriving Over Christmas

By arbutuscoaching | November 26, 2009

For many people, Christmas is a trying and emotional time. A friend of mine, a therapist, says that business is historically up the month before Christmas, as people gear up for what is an emotionally and challenging time for most of us.

Even though advertisers idealize the season, the truth is that most of us come from more or less dysfunctional families, nothing like the Hallmark cards or commercials that are presented as reality Repeat after me, “The Waltons weren’t real people, it was just a TV show, The Walton’s weren’t real people, it was just a TV show.”  With this in mind, take the stress off yourself and don’t expect miracles family wise at Christmas.

To increase your enjoyment over Christmas, consider doing the following:

v    Set a budget for what you’re going to spend and stick to it. Nothing ruins Christmas memories more than a large Visa bill in January. Some of the best gifts are your time, attention and love.

v    Lower your expectations about the holidays, they don’t have to be perfect. Besides, we all define perfection differently.

v    Consider staying at a hotel instead of your parent’s home over the holidays, because absence does make the heart grow fonder and gives both your relatives and you a well needed break. Remember, familiarity breeds contempt, especially at Xmas.

v    Give your friends and loved ones the benefit of the doubt when they say or do something that would normally trigger you. Remind yourself that while we cannot control what others do or say we can change the way we think about things.

v    Limit demands and ultimatums; replace “should,” “must” and “have to” with “I wish,” “maybe” and “my preference …”  Through your example, your relatives might do the same.

Topics: Self care, Boundaries |

Comments